Skirt hoop



April 21, 1953 SUMMERS ETAL 2,635,249

SKIRT HOOP Filed March 27, 1950 INVENTOR. Tfif/ma [I Jam/m r;

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SKIRT noon:

Thelma E. Summers and ArnoIdR.:-:Summe1s,

Leewood, Kans;

Application March 2'7, 1950,'SeriaINo; 152,021

;--This invention relates to. new. and useful improvements in skirts, and has particular reference to. skirts of the class commonly, known as hoop skirts.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a hoop skirt wherein the hoops are readily removable whereby to permit laundering of the skirt without damageto the hoops. Another object is the provision of a hoop skirt of the character described wherein the hoops may be inserted freely and without interference from the skirt seams and the like.

A further object is the provision of a hoop skirt having split hoops the ends of which are connected by special joints. Each of said hoops also may be made of a plurality of sections of different lengths. This permits the diameter of the hoop to be adjusted in small increments.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of manufacture, and ease and convenience of use.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a hoop skirt embodying the present invention, with parts broken away.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged inside view of the skirt, showing parts of the hoop-receiving tubes.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged face view of one of the hoops, shown removed from the skirt.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one of the hoop joints.

Fig. 6 is an external view of the hoop joint shown in Fig. 5.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a skirt made of a pliable material, usually fabric, and comprising an approximately tubular body 4 secured at its upper edge to a waist band 6 and having a decorative ruffle 8 sewed around its lower edge. As indicated in Fig. 2, the skirt body 4 is usually formed of a plurality of panels or gores Ill joined together by seams l 2.

A pair of cloth tubes M are sewed to the inner surface of skirt body 4, said tubes extending circumferentially around the skirt adjacent the lower edge thereof, and being spaced apart from each other. As shown in Fig. 3, each of the tubes is formed of an elongated strip of cloth, folded along its mid-line and sewed along both longitudinal edges to skirt body 4. The ends of each tube l4 do not meet, but are spaced apart, as shown in 3 Claims. (01. 2 -216) Figs. 1 and 2, to form a gap or opening it for providing access to the interior of the tube; As shown in-Fig. 1, gaps l6 are staggered circumferentially around the skirt.

Carried in each of tubes l4'is a hoop 3 formed ofsuitable material, spring steel wire being preferred. As shown inl igp', each hoop l8 comprisesa plurality of'sections 20, 22, 24, and '26, the contiguous ends o-f 'saidsections-being releas ably joinedby special jointsifia Preferably the hoop sections are of more than one length as shown. Joints 28, which are all alike, are detailed in Figs. 5 and 6. Each of said joints comprises a male section 30, a female section 32, and a retainer 34. One end of the wire forming hoop I8 is inserted in a bore 36 formed in male section 30, and is clamped therein by indenting said male section externally, as at 38. Said male section is formed to present an externally threaded stud 40 extending axially relative to the wire. Female section 32 is formed to present an internally threaded socket 42 for receiving stud 40, and is carried for axial rotation on the opposite end portion of the wire hoop. Said wire extends through a bore 44 formed in said female section, and has a ball formation 46 formed on the end thereof within socket 42, whereby said female section is retained on the wire. It is prevented from moving longitudinally on said wire by retainer 34 carried on the wire, said retainer butting against the rearward end of member 32 and being clamped on the wire by denting it externally as at 48. Each of the hoop sections 20, 22, 24, and 26 has a male section 30 at one end and a female section 32 at its opposite end, whereby any convenient number of sections may be incorporated in a hoop.

Hoop l8 may be inserted in tube l4 by disconnecting one of joints 28 and pushing one end thereof longitudinally through tube l4 until both joint sections are exposed in gap [6, whereupon said joint is again secured. Forming tubes M with a closed loop cross-section, as described, bridges the seams [2 of the skirt, and provides that the hoops may be inserted without catching on said seams or tearing the cloth. Joints 28 are smoothly streamlined so as not to catch or damage the dress or stockings. As shown in Fig. 6, both of sections 30 and 32 of each joint 28 are provided with externally knurled portions, whereby said joint is easily operated. Each hoop obviously could be made of a single length of wire, but making it of several sections of different lengths as shown permits the size thereof to be adjusted in increments, either by adding or removing sections, or by substituting shorter sections for longer sections, or vice versa.

The number and spacing of tubes l4 and hoops 18 in the skirt are of course matters of choice, depending on the style desired. Staggering the gaps I 6 in the tubes provides for uniform flexing of the hoops in any direction. While it is contemplated that the skirt shown be used as an underskirt or petticoat, it is apparent that the invention could be applied equally well to outer skirts.

While we have shown a specific embodiment of our invention, it is apparent that many minor changes of structure could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is desired that our protection extend to all subject matter falling properly within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is: V

1. In a hoop skirt of the character described, a hoop comprising a loop formed of a plurality of sections of resilient wire, and a releasable swivel joint for connecting the contiguous ends 01 each successive pair of sections for relative rotation about a longitudinal axis.

2. In a hoop skirt of the character described, a hoop comprising a length of resilient wire formed to present a loop, and a joint for releasably connecting the ends of said wire, said joint comprismg an externally threaded male member fixed to 4 one end of said wire, and a matching female member carried for axial rotation on the other end of said wire.

3. In a hoop skirt of the character described, a hoop comprising a loop formed of a plurality of sections of resilient wire, and a releasable joint for connecting the contiguous ends of each successive pair of sections, said joint comprising an externally threaded male member fixed axially to one end of each of said wire sections, and a matching internally threaded female member carried for axial rotation at the opposite end of each of said wire sections.

THELMA E. SUMMERS.

ARNOLD R. SUMMERS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 467,183 Morgan Jan. 19, 1892 554,998 Forsyth Feb. 18, 1896 1,000,149 Bristol Aug. 8, 1911 2,107,046 Rohatyn Feb. 1, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date 3,009 Great Britain 1866 369 Great Britain Feb. 12, 1862 

